We cannot avoid our monthlies but there are ways to make it more comfortable
What is menstruation?
Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus.
What a normal period should be like:
- Cramps (pain in your lower belly or lower back)
- Bloating (when your belly feels puffy)
- Breakouts (getting pimples)
- Sore breasts
- Feeling tired
- Mood swings (when your emotions change quickly or you feel sad, angry, or anxious)
For more normal symptoms click here
There are symptoms of periods that are not normal and may be a sign of endometriosis
Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus—on the bowels and/or ovaries, as well as behind the uterus and elsewhere. During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens and is shed. With endometriosis, though, the tissue outside the uterus is shed into the abdomen.
- Common symptoms of endometriosis:
- Painful periods. Pelvic pain and cramping may start before a menstrual period and last for days.
- Pain with sex. Pain during or after sex is common with endometriosis.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination.
- Excessive bleeding.
- Infertility.
For more endometriosis symptoms click here
What you can do to make it just a little easier
- Drink more water to reduce bloating
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods to ease menstrual cramps
- Skip the treats to avoid extra bloating and pain
- Drink decaf coffee to improve period pain
- Try dietary supplements to help with menstrual symptoms. ... Apply heat to calm cramping.
Fun facts about periods that you might not know
- Your periods get worse when it is cold
- You can still get pregnant if you're on your period
- The average starting age for periods has changed over the years
- You will spend nearly 10 years of your life on your period